Last Tree Dreaming Project

This summer saw the arrival at College of a 250 year old, 57' tall, 11 tonne, Oak tree which fell in Turner's Paddock, Stourhead in January 2013.

The intention is to re-erect it on the site in summer 2016 as part of a scheme to create a more significant main entrance to the College. The tree featured in the painting 'View over the lake at Stourhead' by JMW Turner in 1798 when it was 30 years old.

The Heritage Lottery have awarded the project £40,000 to involve Frome's young people in the tree's historical and ecological heritage. The sculpture will signify the now depleted great forest of Selwood first recorded in 898 which once covered the whole Frome area.

Students are carving personal aspirational tattoos into the heartwood of the tree. A visit to Tate Britain is planned for the end of September with a talk by the Curator of the Turner Collection. Oral histories of Selwood will be collected, young filmmakers will be supporting and documenting the project and a guided walk is planned along the 15 mile route through the forest from Frome to Stourhead. Talks by local experts will take place and an exhibition will be mounted next year in Stourhead by the students.

Celebrating the installation of the tree at Frome College in July 2016 students will be involved in creating the start of an annual event, coordinating a performance/procession and traditional tree related activities, that will also fundraise to ensure the on going maintenance of the tree.

Students who would like to be involved in creating or designing a carving for the tree can meet the group in the Media Arts Centre on Mondays 3.00-4.00pm.